Dear Frankly Friends,
It is with profound sadness that I share the news with you that my beloved husband, Frank Thomas passed away peacefully on the 17th March 2021 in Celebration, FL, USA, having suffered a heart attack on our daily walk.
It was 58 years earlier, to the day, that he set sail from his native South Africa, to head across the Atlantic toward America in his 25-foot sailboat Banshee with his friend Malcolm Maidwell in an incredible adventure that shaped his life and his enduring philosophy.
Frank lived the American Dream. He loved America and the freedoms and the opportunity that this country provides to everyone. He was an innovator and in America he was able to follow his dreams.
He invented the graphite golf shaft as Chief Design Engineer with Shakespeare Sporting Goods, an invention that was not only was a milestone in golf, but also in the manufacturing of consumer products where strength and lightweight is important.
He then joined the United States Golf Association (USGA) as Technical Director, where he developed the Research and Test Center. He directed the development of almost all the performance standards for golf equipment now used to maintain the integrity of the game enjoyed by so many people around the world. He directed the development of the Indoor Test Range (ITR) to measure golf ball aerodynamics, which is now used industrywide. He also directed the development of GHIN (golf handicap system) as well as redesigning the Stimpmeter now used internationally to measure the speed of greens.
Upon leaving the USGA, Frank started Frankly Golf, a company dedicated to helping golfers. Specializing in putting, he used his years of experience in science and research to design the Frankly Frog Putter and create the Certified Putting Instructor (CPI) Course, now used by eight PGA’s around the world for ongoing education.
Frank loved to help people. He wrote a regular column on our website and in Golf Digest, and had a segment on Golf Channel, answering golfer’s equipment questions for many years.
He loved innovation, nature, adventure, the beauty and evolution of life. No challenge was too great, and he believed that everyone should “Follow their dreams and never give up.”
He is survived by his sister Nora Hill and his children from his first marriage to Wendy Thomas: Joanne Thomas, Ginny Zimmerman, Will Thomas and his grandchildren Colin and Jordan Zimmerman and Alli and Ryan White.
Frank had an amazing life. He was a very kind person and was truly a gentleman. He always saw the good in people. As his wife, I would like to let you know that Frank appreciated and enjoyed all your questions and correspondence through the years and your loyalty and support of our business, Frankly Golf, as we took our dream and made it real.
I will miss Frank terribly. He was the love of my life and my best friend. However, I look forward to working hard to continue Frank’s legacy and helping golfers into the future, which is what I promised him.
If you would like to leave a message below, it would be so nice to hear from you. I will be reading them all individually. Thank you.
Valerie Melvin
franklygolf 
Dear Valerie:
I am so sorry for your loss. I’m sorry for golf’s loss. I am sorry for his reader’s loss. He was a breath of fresh air in a world of hype and marketing. He spoke truth in a world that needed the truth-we still need the truth and I hope that you will carry that torch that he lit so many years ago.
Valerie,
I met you and Frank in July 2007 on the first tee box of the Old Course in St. Andrews. I’ll never forget the round we played together that day (much of it in a drizzle) and what an interesting gentleman Frank was, and how many times you out-drove me.
I became a fan and a Frankly Frog member and have never missed a Q&A column since.
My deepest condolences to you and the rest of Frank’s family, he will be greatly missed.
Regards,
Jack Newberry
Huntsville, TX
So sorry to hear of Frank’s passing. Learned so much about golf from him and yourself that golfers will miss his knowledge and videos. I sent in several questions over the years and was very proud when they were answered on your website. My Grandfather Walter Fovargue was one of the Founders of the PGA in 1916 and love golf history.
RIP Frank Thomas
I will miss Frank. He was always the source that I would go to for answers to golf questions. He was a well respected professional.
Valerie,
God Blessed you! You got to have a friend and husband that was amazing. Let those Joys comfort you as you miss Frank. I have for decades considered Frank the Gold Standard and Absolutely loved to get his wise, common sense advice to my email questions. Blessing to hear Frank enjoyed help the world of golf. The Lord is near to the broken hearted Psalms 34:17 says.
So sorry for your loss. I enjoyed watching his videos and advice.
My deepest and sincere condolences on the passing of Frank. We had some good times in South Africa when we fitted putters at the PGA Championship.
I wish you continued success with Frankly Golf.
Sincere best wishes
God bless him. Truly and always a gentleman. Condolences and prayers to his family.
Dear Valerie
I am saddened to hear of your loss as Frank was a gift given to this great game we all love. I first became aware of him when I attended a Golf Foundation seminar in Alabama many years ago when he was featured in a video on the rules and equipment. I had heard of him, mostly in conjunction with graphite shafts but not in his then “new” endeavours with the USGA. I followed his time at the USGA closely and although I often disagreed with his conclusions, I always understood and respected his reasoning.
I have used a Frankly Frog for nearly 10 years now, in the early days, I would loan it out to a friend who fell in love with it so I would sell it to him and then buy another from your supplier in my country.
I will miss his weekly musings but will still listen in for your comments.
My condolences to you and all the Thomas family. A mighty Redwood has fallen.
Dear Valerie,
We are so sad to hear of Frank’s passing. We were so honored to have the privilege of meeting you and Frank on your daily walks in Celebration. You were both so kind to give Jim putting tips that have really helped his golf game. Frank was very interesting to talk golf with and share his great knowledge of golf. Our sincere condolences to you and all the family. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and hope to meet up with you again next year.
Jim and Carol Sawyer
St. Louis, MO
I am so sorry Valerie of your loss of Frank. Through Frankly golf I felt I almost knew him, which makes it especially hard to hear of tus news. Sending my heartfelt condolences Valerie.
Don Mulchinock
Alberta Canada
Sorry for your loss Valerie.
Al Andrus
I was so sorry to hear this last week, Valerie. I always enjoyed seeing the bond between you two, and I know all too well the kind of loss you are feeling. Please know that I’m here for you if you need someone to talk with, and keep fighting the good fight for the values of the game we love.
I’ve followed Frank’s columns for years and have always been impressed with his insight and foresight. His greatest contributions have been on the technology of golf and how it might affect golf in the future. His comments on the current groove rule are especially prescient since despite the USGA mandate, the swing speeds of elite players has made the change irrelevant. Sixty years ago our club pro contemplated sharpening the leading edge of one wedge just to play out of high rough at the U.S. Open. Now, at almost every tour event, multiple players spin the ball from even deeper grass.
Dear Valerie
It is hard to believe we first meet both of you many years ago at a GOLFFEST at Champions Gate, we were both just beginning our ride in the world of golf.
The help both of you have provided us then and at your studio has helped us so much down that special path of golf. I remember parking at the studio and getting the
“you parked in the wrong spot” notice, which Frank autographed for me!
As a advid reader and saver of the weekly emails I surely hope you will continue these in Franks memory.
Our condolences to you and the entire Thomas Family